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Italy U21 coach Casiraghi hits out at Serie A clubs

Italy U21 coach Pierluigi Casiraghi has hit out at Serie A clubs for not allowing local talent to come through.

"In my position I would prefer that everyone has the chance to play, grow, mature in terms of experience and quality," said the Coach in Tuttosport.

"If a few chances are given in the small to mid-table teams, the same cannot be said of Milan, Inter, Juventus and Roma."

Much has been made of the young talents at Arsenal, but in Serie A it is not so easy to see an Under-21 regularly in the starting XI.

"It is an issue of winning mentality. Here they want to win immediately and there is no time to wait around for a youngster to prove himself, so clubs go straight to champions of experience who are considered reliable. It's a different approach overseas," said the former Premier League player.

"I am sure that if Cesc Fabregas, Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were in Serie A, they'd play regularly as well, although they certainly would not have been given their debuts in these big clubs at 17. They would've had to wait a few more years.

Casiraghi has some ideas on why the clubs in Italy are more reticent to put their faith in younger talents.

"It is the system that does not allow you to run a risk. When you are obliged to win, second place in the table is considered failure and a Coach can feel the axe over his head from Week 1, you tend to rely on an experienced player rather than a talented youngster who needs more time to mature.

"Our youth systems are among the best in the world. I will say I have criticism for the football schools, though, as they treat children as if they were professionals from the start and limit their creativity."